Azzuro Resources Secures Strategic A$3.06M Investment to Advance Mongolian Projects www.theassay.com

Azzuro Resources PLC (ASX: AZ9) has secured a A$3.06M strategic investment from Kerry Resources Logistics (Hong Kong) Limited, providing fresh funding to advance exploration and technical studies across its Mongolian copper, gold, nickel and PGE projects.

The investment will see Kerry Resources subscribe for approximately 203.9 million CDIs at A$0.015 each, representing a 7% premium to Azzuro’s last traded price and a 10% premium to the company’s 15-day volume weighted average price.

Upon completion, Kerry Resources will hold approximately 19.9% of Azzuro’s expanded share capital, becoming a substantial shareholder. Under the agreement, the investor will also have the right to nominate one director to the board while maintaining a stake of at least 15%.

Funds from the placement will be directed towards exploration and evaluation activities across Azzuro’s Mongolian tenements, with a particular focus on advancing the Red Hill copper-gold project and the Oval copper-nickel-PGE discovery, as well as supporting general working capital requirements.

Gan-Ochir Zunduisuren, Managing Director of Azzuro Resources, commented, “This investment is a transformational step for Azzuro. Kerry Mining Group’s backing gives us the funding and technical muscle to unlock the full potential of both the Red Hill copper-gold VMS system and the Oval copper-nickel-PGE discovery, two high-grade assets in one of the world’s most prospective and underexplored mining regions. It is also a clear vote of confidence in our exploration team and what it has delivered over the past couple of years. The A$3 million investment fully funds our resource definition, metallurgical testwork and initial commercial study at Red Hill project, putting us on a clear path to turn discovery into value. Kerry brings strong, locally rooted technical and operating expertise in western Mongolia, and we’re excited to work with them to accelerate Azzuro’s journey from exploration to development.”

The placement is expected to complete on 19 October 2026 and does not require shareholder approval.

Mongolia's inflation rate rises to 12.9 pct in September www.xinhuanet.com

Mongolia's inflation rate, as measured by the consumer price index, reached 12.9 percent in September, local media reported on Tuesday, citing the country's National Statistics Office (NSO).

The figure was 3.9 percentage points higher than in the same month last year and 0.6 percentage points above the rate recorded in August, according to the NSO.

The increase was driven primarily by rising prices of imported goods, the statistics office said.

The Bank of Mongolia, the country's central bank, has set an inflation target of 5 percent, with a tolerance band of plus or minus 2 percentage points, from 2027, as part of its efforts to maintain macroeconomic and financial stability over the medium term.

Bear sightings rise in Mongolia's residential areas www.xinhuanet.com

At least 997 bear sightings have been reported across Mongolia since spring this year, the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change said Tuesday.

The bear sightings have been reported in 11 provinces and the capital, Ulan Bator, the ministry said.

So far, 20 bears that posed a threat to human life, health or property have been killed, as authorities step up efforts to address the growing number of bear encounters in residential areas.

Authorities regularly issue public safety alerts and information online and operate a 24-hour hotline to receive reports from residents.

Experts attribute the sharp increase in bear sightings to several factors, including climate change, food shortages in bears' natural habitats and the overexploitation of natural resources.

One dead, two injured in 172 forest and steppe fires this year in Mongolia www.asianews.network

A total of 172 forest and steppe fires have been recorded across Mongolia since the beginning of 2026, resulting in one death and two people suffering burn injuries.

As of October 11, the fires had occurred in two districts of Ulaanbaatar and 63 soums across 12 provinces. This represents a 36.2% decrease compared with the same period last year. Steppe fires accounted for 134 incidents, or 77% of the total.

Emergency responders rescued 4,950 gers, 25 winter shelters and corrals, and eight vehicles from the threat of fire. They also evacuated eight people from three households and approximately 3,760 head of livestock.

However, the fires caused significant damage, destroying 12 gers, two houses, six winter shelters, 38 corrals and sheds, and six vehicles. The fires also killed 131 head of large livestock and 1,012 head of small livestock.

Preliminary estimates indicate that the fires affected a total area of 1,016,908 hectares, causing approximately MNT 7.9 billion in damage.

By number of incidents, Dornod province recorded the highest total, with 61 fires, followed by Sukhbaatar province with 39 and Khentii province with 28.

World Women Parliamentarians Call for Greater Influence in Decision-Making www.montsame.mn

The two-day World Women Parliamentarians’ Forum, held in Ulaanbaatar under the theme “From Representation to Influence in Decision-Making Process,” concluded on October 13.

Nearly 150 official delegates from 32 countries across four continents, representing more than 20 parliaments and international organizations, attended the conference to exchange views on strengthening women’s political participation and leadership.

Alongside a plenary session on turning women’s representation at decision-making levels into tangible influence and enhancing women politicians’ leadership, parallel sessions addressed legal reforms on gender equality, international cooperation, current challenges, and ways to overcome them. Another session held on October 13 discussed how civil society and the private sector can work together to increase women’s influence across all sectors and how support systems can be established to promote women’s leadership.

In her closing remarks, Minister of Foreign Affairs Battsetseg Batmunkh emphasized that the forum has been productive and has fostered important dialogue, expanding opportunities for international cooperation to strengthen the influence of women members of parliaments worldwide.

She noted that the forum has grown far beyond an ordinary meeting, becoming a shared platform for learning from one another, drawing mutual inspiration, and approaching future work with renewed energy and determination. Although the challenges facing participants were similar in many respects, so too were the aspirations driving them forward, she said.

“Real influence can only be achieved when women participate fully in every stage of parliamentary work, including setting priorities, drafting legislation, allocating resources and overseeing implementation,” she said. She added that participants agreed on the need to create opportunities for women to exert genuine influence at every level of decision-making.

Minister Battsetseg also presented the outcome document of the World Women Parliamentarians’ Forum. The document emphasizes that women must not only be represented at decision-making levels but must also be able to shape legislation and policy decisions. Participants agreed that lasting change in this regard cannot be achieved through the efforts of a single institution or country alone, but requires international cooperation and mutual support.

During the forum, participants identified several key points:

Representation is essential but not sufficient on its own.
Access to leadership positions is important for exercising meaningful influence.
A safe, fair, and supportive environment is a prerequisite for effective participation.
International cooperation is effective when it strengthens leadership at the national level.
Sustained progress requires broad partnerships and consistent, ongoing efforts.
Based on the discussions and views expressed by participants, the forum also identified recommendations and priorities for future action in four main areas:

Increasing women’s representation at decision-making levels.
Turning that representation into meaningful influence.
Creating a safe and supportive environment for women’s leadership.
Advancing international cooperation to develop women politicians’ leadership and capacity.
The outcome document also proposes reviewing women parliamentarians’ future cooperation, actions taken and progress achieved at subsequent meetings. Minister  Battsetseg said the document would be submitted to the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) and relevant United Nations bodies and brought to the attention of the international community.

MP Undraa Agvaanluvsan, Chair of the Parliamentary Women Members’ Caucus, delivered remarks expressing gratitude to the forum participants, delegates, and organizers.

She noted that although participants came from different political systems and cultural traditions, they shared the view that parliaments with gender equality make fairer and more accountable decisions. She welcomed their agreement that women’s participation at decision-making levels is not a privilege to be granted by others, but an integral condition of democracy.

Establishing “good parliaments” that uphold human rights and are accessible, open, and accountable to citizens is a fundamental objective of parliaments worldwide, she said, adding that a good parliament cannot be built without women’s voices.

Housing Prices Up 7.6 Percent www.montsame.mn

The residential property price index (2023.I=1.0) reached 1.47 in September 2026, representing a 7.6% increase compared to the same period last year and a 1.3% rise from the previous month.

Prices for new apartments increased by 3.7% year-on-year depending on usage duration, while prices for existing (old) apartments rose by 8.8%, according to the National Statistics Office. Compared to the previous month, new apartment prices dipped slightly by 0.2%, whereas existing apartment prices went up by 2%.

In September, the average price per square meter for a new apartment stood at MNT 4.78 million, with Sukhbaatar district recording the highest average at MNT 5.52 million. Year-on-year, new apartment prices saw their highest increase in Songinokhairkhan district, rising by 14.8% or MNT 468,400 per square meter.

Meanwhile, the average price per square meter for an existing apartment reached MNT 4.86 million, with Sukhbaatar district again posting the highest price at MNT 5.92 million. On an annual basis, existing apartment prices grew most significantly in Bayanzurkh district, increasing by 10.2%, or MNT 428,900 per square meter.

Across specific locations, the highest average price per square meter was recorded near Sukhbaatar Square and the “220 Myangat” (220k Residence) area in Sukhbaatar district at MNT 7.99 million, while the lowest was around the 21st Microdistrict in Songinokhairkhan district at MNT 3.31 million.

Based on experimental calculations, average monthly rental prices in September were as follows:

·         One-room apartment: MNT 1.38 million

·         Two-room apartment: MNT 1.97 million

·         Three-room apartment: MNT 3.04 million

By location, monthly rents for one-to-three-room apartments were highest in the Sukhbaatar district, ranging from MNT 1.65 million to MNT 3.63 million, and lowest in the Songinokhairkhan district, ranging from MNT 1.10 million to MNT 1.71 million.

Mongolia and Finland to Cooperate on Teacher Training and Education Research www.montsame.mn

Enkh-Amgalan Luvsantseren, Minister of Education, met with Ari Koski, Key Account Manager and Director of Cooperation at the University of Turku in Finland, and Henri Muurimaa, founder of Eduten.

The meeting focused on cooperation to strengthen Mongolia’s education sector, particularly its teacher training system. The sides exchanged views on cooperation between the Mongolian National University of Education and the University of Turku to adapt Finland’s world-renowned educational methodologies and teacher training practices to Mongolia’s education system and enhance teachers’ professional capacity.

The University of Turku has been operating since 1920 and is one of Finland’s oldest universities. It is internationally recognized for its leading education research.

The two sides agreed to cooperate in improving the quality of teacher training programs at the Mongolian National University of Education by drawing on Finland’s internationally recognized educational methods and experience, as well as implementing joint research projects and academic programs in education, the Ministry of Education reported.

Singapore and Mongolia launch bilateral carbon credit initiative www.enerdata.net

Singapore and Mongolia will begin accepting applications for carbon credit projects on 30 October under a bilateral implementation agreement, according to a joint statement by Singapore’s Ministry of Energy, Trade and Industry and the National Environment Agency. The projects are expected to generate carbon credits in line with Article 6 of the Paris Agreement. Under Singapore’s International Carbon Credit Framework, these credits may be eligible for use by Singapore-based companies subject to carbon tax, allowing them to offset up to 5% of their taxable emissions.

The agreement marks Singapore’s sixth bilateral implementation agreement allowing applications for carbon credit projects. It follows similar arrangements with Ghana, Bhutan, Peru, Rwanda and Thailand, according to the press release.

In 2025, Singapore released its updated NDC, in which it intends to reduce its GHG emissions to between 45 to 50 MtCO2eq in 2035 (from 63 MtCO2eq in 2024). The first NDC set the target of reducing the GHG emission intensity by 36% from 2005 levels by 2030, with an aim of achieving peak emissions around 2030. In 2022, the government announced that it would achieve net zero emissions by 2050. To reach its carbon objectives, Singapore plans to transform its economy by funding emerging low-carbon and carbon capture utilisation and storage (CCUS) technologies and contributing to the creation of carbon markets and regional power grids.

In addition, given that Singapore lacks suitable underground sites to facilitate CCS, Singapore seeks to work with other countries in the development of this technology. Some countries that Singapore is looking to collaborate with to lock up carbon or share best practices on the technology are Indonesia, Malaysia, Japan, Brunei, and Australia (Enerdata Global Energy Research).

Mongolian President Khurelsukh To Visit Germany www.kas.de

The President of Mongolia, Khurelsukh Ukhnaa, will visit Germany from 19 to 22 October. Although Mongolia is a geographically distant and relatively small country in terms of population, this visit is important for both sides. Mongolia regards Germany as a preferred partner in helping to preserve its room for manoeuvre between its two powerful neighbours, Russia and China. Germany, for its part, is also seeking to gain and maintain global partners in an increasingly uncertain international environment who share our values and interests. Mongolia is such a partner. The two countries share common interests, particularly with regard to a rules-based international order and cooperation in the field of raw materials. In practice, however, significant challenges remain in the latter area. Domestically, Mongolia is approaching a presidential election in 2027 and parliamentary elections in 2028, the outcomes of which remain uncertain.
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Germany and Mongolia are seeking to reinvigorate a partnership that has gained strategic importance in an increasingly uncertain international environment. President Khurelsukh’s visit to Germany reflects a convergence of interests rather than merely diplomatic symbolism. For Mongolia, Germany is one of the country’s most important “third neighbours”, a democratic partner that can help balance the overwhelming influence of Russia and China. Mongolia remains highly dependent on Russia for energy supplies and on China as its dominant export market, leaving its foreign policy constrained by geopolitical realities. As a democratic state located between two authoritarian powers, Mongolia seeks closer relations with countries that can help preserve its political and economic autonomy. Germany occupies a particularly prominent place in this strategy and is today Mongolia’s only strategic partner in Europe.

From the German perspective, Mongolia has become increasingly attractive as both a values-based and an interest-based partner. Germany’s search for reliable international partners has intensified in the face of geopolitical instability and growing competition between major powers. Mongolia stands out as a democratic country in a region otherwise dominated by authoritarian systems and broadly supports a rules-based international order. These shared political values und interests provide a strong foundation for bilateral relations. At the same time, Mongolia’s vast mineral wealth, including deposits of strategic importance for modern technologies, gives the relationship a significant economic potential.

Despite this favourable political framework, cooperation has often produced fewer practical results than both sides initially hoped. The most prominent example is the bilateral raw materials partnership established in 2011, which raised high expectations but has delivered only limited economic outcomes. While cooperation in raw materials-related higher education has generated tangible successes, large-scale German investment in Mongolia’s mining sector has remained limited. Regulatory uncertainty, governance challenges and difficult investment conditions in Mongolia have played a role, as has the fact that German companies today lack the capacity to carry out large-scale mining projects on their own. Unlocking the full potential of the partnership would therefore require stronger political commitment and closer coordination from both sides.

Cooperation has also expanded in the fields of security and international affairs. Mongolia and Germany work together in military training. At the same time, Mongolia’s cautious approach towards Russia’s war against Ukraine reflects the constraints arising from its geographic position and economic dependence on its neighbours. This reality necessitates a pragmatic relationship in which Germany recognises Mongolia’s strategic limitations while continuing to deepen cooperation wherever possible.

Domestically, Mongolia is entering a politically important period ahead of the presidential election in 2027 and the parliamentary elections in 2028. Although the ruling Mongolian People’s Party remains the dominant political force, economic challenges, public dissatisfaction and internal political competition are contributing to an increasingly uncertain political landscape. Regardless of future electoral outcomes, however, close relations with Germany are likely to remain a shared objective of Mongolian foreign policy. For Germany, maintaining and strengthening ties with this democratic partner continues to offer strategic benefits, even if expectations in some areas have yet to be fully realised.

AI-generated bear images and hoax emergency calls on the rise in Mongolia www.asianews.network

Authorities have reported an increase in incidents involving the circulation of AI-generated images and false emergency calls claiming that a bear is roaming in the area.

Such actions can waste valuable time and resources that should be dedicated to genuine emergencies, mislead the public, and cause unnecessary fear.

Authorities warn that individuals found spreading false information or making hoax emergency calls will be identified and held accountable under Mongolia’s Law on Violations. Penalties may include fines and compensation for any damage caused.

Penalties for obstructing rescue operations
Under Article 15.9, Paragraph 1 of the Law on Violations, obstruction of rescue operations is subject to the following penalties:

Individuals: A fine of MNT 300,000.

Legal entities: A fine of MNT 3 million.

Sh.Batbayar, State Secretary of the Ministry of Environment and Climate change, provided an update on the recent fatal bear incident.

“The bear involved in the fatal incident was neutralized, and samples from its stomach and intestines have been submitted for analysis. The results are expected on October 12. A state of heightened readiness remains in effect in the area where the incident occurred. To protect human life and safety, permits for bear hunting have been issued for high-risk areas where deemed necessary. Citizens have the right to take sel